Disclaimer: ZZZzzzzzzzz *snort* zzzzzz

Chapter 12: Used

My hands shaking, I put down the data pad. Lies, they had to be fabricated. It couldn't be real!

I stared into the flickering flame as if it would give me some answer to the many questions that had burst forth. What was I going to do now? Was he right?

It was all too confusing.

Suddenly the cave seemed to close in on me. I had to get out and get some air, this place was getting claustrophobic.

Ignoring the pain in my side, and Abby's protests, I stood and walked out of the cave. The sunlight hit me like a hammer, so I stopped for a moment to let my eyes adjust.

Then HE was there. The Martian, came a stood by my side, "I'd better come with you, if you're going for a walk. There are some treacherous cliffs around here, don't want you to fall." He laughed.

I gave him the darkest look I could muster and walked forward, at first I just focused on getting one foot in front of the other, then after that was automatic, I became aware of the fact that HE was silently walking beside me.

I kept glancing at him, expecting him to say something, but nothing ever came. His eyes held a distant look, like he was deep in thought. Thinking about what?

Now having a better chance to examine him, I saw a small, but ever present smile on his face. It was entirely natural, like he smiled so much that it had become permanent. He was tall, about four inches taller then Abby, meaning he was well over a foot taller than me. He had broad shoulders that seemed to carry no weight at all, and then there was his walk. He had the walk of a person who had seen much, but was confident enough to keep going.

From what I could figure out about his personality, he wasn't a mean person, in fact in the small amount of time I had known him he had been at least civil, if not kind, while I on the other hand had treated him like dirt.

I looked away, but the image of that smile stayed with me.



It was early evening by the time we made it back to the cave, Alex had not said a single word the whole time, only there to keep me from falling off any cliffs. Cliffs of which I had seen no evidence at all.

Alex went over to his hovercraft and began working on the engine, leaving me to stand there and watch.

Which I did.

I settled myself onto the ground under a scraggly pathetic little tree, and watched him. He moved about with ease as he worked, never stopping between each thing he did, knowing exactly what he needed to do.

If only I could be like that.

Right now I just felt... used. Like being a sponge and someone squeezing out all the water and leaving me in the sun to dry and shrivel up.

After a little bit, Abby came out with dinner. Alex came over and sat behind me, to my left, his back perpendicular with mine.

He began to hum, I'd heard him humming before but had never really paid any attention to the tune. Where had I head that before?

When he began to softly sing the lyrics it hit me. The angel in my dream, or vision, or whatever it was had sung the same song.

I turned my head and stared at him. He had his head rested against the base of the tree and was staring up at the starry filled sky.

I looked up at the sky myself, but closed my eyes, and just listened to his soft voice.

I felt sleep claim me, but didn't care that I was out in the open propped up against a tree next to my sworn enemy.

A little while later I became conscious enough and felt someone wrap their arms around me, carry, and place me under some blankets.



Thanks be to foo.

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. Or whatever holiday you celebrate, doesn't matter.

Please review. Oh, ah, and speaking of reviews, or reviewers, rosebud apparently is my only constant, thanks, rosebud.